Sereno calls on Duterte to resign

The former top magistrate recalled a statement she made asking Duterte to admit that he had a hand in her outster (PNA Photo)

A week after being ousted from her office, former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno dared the President to resign.

Sereno during the Quo Vadis, Quo Warranto Forum at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on May 17, Thursday called on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to step down from his office, saying that through his mouth, he admitted that he was behind the removal from her post.

The former top magistrate recalled a statement she made asking Duterte to admit that he had a hand in her ouster, stressing that Solicitor General Jose Calida will not file a case before the Supreme Court (SC) without his approval.

“Sabihin mo sa taong bayan ang totoo… at anong sinabi niya? Ikaw ay aking kaaway at uutusan ko ang Kongresong tanggalin ka kaagad, sisiguraduhin ko pang tutulungan ko pa si Ginoong Calida (Tell the citizens the truth… and what did he say? You are my enemy and I will ask the Congress to oust you immediately, I will even assure to help Mr. Calida),” she said, referring to Duterte’s counter-statement on April 9.

(Read: Duterte to Sereno: I’m your enemy)

“I’m putting you on notice that I’m your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court,” Duterte earlier said in a press conference, adding, “I will see to it and after that, I will request the Congress go into the impeachment right away.”

Sereno went on by challenging the President’s promise of resignation.

“Mag-re-resign daw siya, pang-ilang beses na po natin narinig na mag-re-resign siya? Galing sa kanyang bibig ng pag-amin na siya ang pasimula at magpupursigi sa pagtanggal sa akin…

Pwes, Ginoong Pangulo, mag-resign ka na! (He said he will resign, how many times have we hear him say that he will resign?

Admitting straight from his mouth that he started and that he will pursue my ouster… Well Mr. President, resign!)” she said.

Duterte on Wednesday clarified that he had nothing to do with Sereno’s case, while Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. refused to make a comment, saying that the silence of the President should be respected as private individual.